vijayawada l monday l november 18, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION blackouts in Ukraine as Russia launches fiercest attack in months Russia on Sunday launched a massive drone and missile attack targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, killing two civilians and injuring six ‘200 missiles and drones FIREd AT UKRAINE’ Nato member poland mobilises forces Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Explosions were heard across the country, including in capital Kyiv, the key southern port of Odesa, as well as the country’s west and central regions, according to local reports. It was the biggest missile and drone attack on Ukraine since August ■ ■ The scale of the attack prompted neighbouring Poland, a NATO member, to scramble fighter jets and mobilise all available forces The strikes caused massive power cuts across the country. The attack came as fears are mounting about Moscow’s intentions to devastate Ukraine’s power generation capacity ahead of the cold winter 1,000 days Will have passed ON Tuesday since Russia INVADED Ukraine ON fEB 22, 2022 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI India in elite club after successful long-range hypersonic missile test Shah holds key meet as Manipur simmers H e m a n t K u m a r R o u t & M aya n k S i n g h @ Bhubaneswar/New Delhi Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday cancelled his campaign in poll-bound Maharashtra and rushed to Delhi to hold a high-level review meeting on the fresh violence in Manipur. Sources said Shah sat down with senior officials to take stock of the situation, and directed them to take all possible measures to bring back normalcy in the strife-torn state. It is learnt that Shah has called another meeting on Monday for a detailed discussion on the state’s law and order situation in the northeastern state. Meanwhile, the director-general of the Central Reserve Police Force, Anish Dayal, was sent to Imphal to assess the security situation in the state, which has been witnessing intermittent violent incidents since May 2023 following the ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities. Tensions escalated in Manipur on Saturday following the recovery of the bodies of six individuals, who were reportedly abducted and killed by militants in Jiribam. On Saturday, irate mobs attacked the residences of state In a significant demonstration of India’s growing military prowess, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Saturday successfully flight-tested the country’s first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off Odisha coast. The test missile was launched from a ground-based mobile launcher positioned at the launching complex-IV of the Integrated Test Range at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island around 6.55 pm on Saturday . The missile, developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad along with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners, can carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km, an official readout said. At present, only a few countries like the US, Russia and China, have hypersonic missiles. These missiles can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound or roughly around 6,200 kmph). With such extreme speed, manoeuvrability, and the ability to fly at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles are harder to detect and intercept. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the missile test on Saturday under the country’s first longrange hypersonic mission as a “stupendous” achievement and a “historic moment”. “The flight data obtained from down range ship stations confir med the successful ter minal maneuvers and impact with high degree of accuracy” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Sources told this newspaper that the test was “a stupendous success as the test missile covered around 1,400 km in its first attempt validating all its subsystems and exhibiting excellent terminal manoeuvres”. Also, it was the first time the DRDO conducted the experimental trial of an indigenously-designed and developed missile after sunset. Test missile being fired from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the Odisha coast | PTi Arms race l Russia and China have made significant progress in developing their own hypersonic missiles lThe US is in the process of developing a range of hypersonic weapons lOther countries, including France, Germany, Japan, Iran, and Israel, are also pursuing projects to build hypersonic missiles express read Ramamurthy cremated with full State honours Tirupati: Former Chandragiri MLA & younger brother of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Ramamurthy Naidu was cremated with full State honours in his ancestral village of Naravaripalle, drawing scores of mourners from both Telugu States. The funeral procession began at 2.30 pm with Chandrababu and his son Lokesh as pallbearers | P4 Cancels Maharashtra poll rallies, rushes to Delhi to hold high-level meeting in view of rising tension in the state M u k e s h R a n j a n @ New Delhi Amit Shah ministers and MLAs. The protesters also attempted to storm Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s house, prompting security forces to respond with tear gas to disperse the crowds. The fresh incidents of violence took place on Saturday night even as an indefinite curfew was clamped after people, agitated by the killing of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs earlier in the day . The angry mobs torched the houses of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam at Ningthoukhong, Hiyanglam’s BJP MLA Y Radheshyam at Langmeidong Bazar, Wangjing Tentha’s BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district and Khundrakpam’s Congress MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar in Imphal East district, according to officials. On Sunday morning, there was a tense calm in all five districts of the Imphal Valley, where the curfew was imposed and internet services were suspended following violent protests after the discovery of the bodies of six people who were allegedly abducted and killed by militants in Jiribam. Last week, Manipur police said it shot dead 10 militants. Mob vandalises BJP MLA’s house in Imphal Imphal: A mob vandalised the ancestral house of BJP MLA Kongkham Robindro in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Sunday evening, police said. The incident occurred a day after a house built by the legislator himself in the same district was attacked. Miscreants also reportedly attacked the BJP, Congress offices in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Sunday NPP withdraws support to Biren Singh-led govt P RASANTA MA Z UMDAR @ Guwahati THE National People’s Party (NPP) on Sunday withdrew its support to the BJP-led government in Manipur saying it has “completely failed” to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy . In a letter addressed to BJP president J P Nadda, NPP chief and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressed deep concern over the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, where innocent lives have been lost and people are going through immense suffering. “…we strongly feel that the Manipur government under the leadership of Shri Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy Keeping the current . situation in mind, the NPP has decided to withdraw its support to the Biren Singh-led government with immediate effect,” the letter read. Digital abuse: TDP, JSP activists under scanner P h a n i n d r a Pa pa s a n i @ Vijayawada In a bid to intensify crackdown on social media abuse, State police and special wings of the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (APCID) have formed special teams to identify defamatory posts and register complaints against people posting offensive content on social media platforms. Besides YSRC’s social media activists, police have booked cases against members of the ruling TDP and JSP for posting abusive content against various political leaders and their families, and for disseminating unverified news pertaining to political developments. According to sources, both law and order police in all 26 police units, along with APCID, have launched a special drive to identify malicious and abusive posts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. They have reportedly found over 1,000 such handles through which derogatory posts were made against women, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, family members of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and other , political leaders. It has been learnt that cyber crime police are keeping a watch on certain persons whose posts were found derog- atory in nature and warned them of stringent action if they don’t restrain from such activities. “More than 150 cases under various sections of the Information Technology Act have been registered this month so far. As many as 20 persons have been arrested for posting offensive content targeting certain people. The posts were vulgar, objectionable and can also create tension among groups, religions and between political parties. We are categorising the posts based on the content and filing cases accordingly said a ,” senior police officer on the con- More than 150 cases under various sections of the Information Technology Act have been registered this month so far. As many as 20 persons have been arrested for posting offensive content targeting certain people — Senior police officer dition of anonymity . He clarified that cases were also being registered against TDP and Jana Sena leaders. “Notices under relevant sections were served on TDP and JSP social media activists, instructing them to appear before the investigation officers. Social media handles of ruling alliance leaders and their followers are being monitored,” the police officer explained. On several occasions, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has raised concerns over the rising instances of social media abuse and underscored the need to enact a law for cracking down on the menace. He also directed TDP leaders and party’s social media activists not to cross the line by making abusive posts against family members of leaders. Delhi cabinet minister Kailash Gahlot quits AAP A n u p v e r m a @ New Delhi In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, its senior leader and minister Kailash Gahlot left the party on Sunday Sources said his resig. nation was accepted by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. Gahlot, in his resignation letter, said “political ambitions have overtaken our commitment towards people, leaving many promises unfulfilled”. He cited the case of Yamuna River, which the party had promised to clean up. “Now the Yamuna is perhaps even more polluted than before,” he said. He also made a mention of the ‘sheesh mahal’ row over `45 crore renovation of the Chief Minister’s residence, saying such controversies are making the public doubt whether the AAP is still the common man’s party . He alleged that instead of fighting for the rights of the people, the party was busy fighting for its own agenda which has crippled delivery of basic services in Delhi. Meanwhile, AAP sources said Gahlot left the party as a result of multiple investigations launched against him by various Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investig ation (CBI). Multiple raids have been conducted on his properties in recent months. “Pressure was created on Gahlot by conducting ED-CBI raids, and now he is speaking as per the script given by the BJP,” AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said. “The Modi washing machine has become active before the Delhi elections. Now many leaders will be inducted into the BJP through this machine,” Singh said. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva welcomed Gahlot’s resignation. “Gahlot stepped down raising the same issues for which the BJP was protesting and fighting against Kejriwal and AAP. His resignation proves that even AAP leaders do not consider Kejriwal an honest politician,” Sachdeva said. Grand Commander Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds the certificate of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger received from Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu (R), in Abuja | AFp boost to tourism Vizag set to get India’s longest glass bridge Dharmendra Regana @ Visakhapatnam Trials underway for sky cycling at Kailasagiri in Visakhapatnam I G Satyanarayana the City of Destiny is set to get India’s longest cantilever glass skywalk bridge, spanning 50 metres, near the Titanic Viewpoint at Kailasagiri.   The bridge, which will come up at an estimated cost of `6 crore, will offer panoramic views of the sea and surrounding hills, enhancing the tourist experience in the region. Construction of the bridge is scheduled to commence on Monday (November 18). Designed to boost the city’s tourism appeal, the project will showcase Kailasagiri’s natural beauty while providing a thrilling adventure for visitors. A cantilever glass skywalk bridge is a pedestrian bridge that extends horizontally from a supporting structure, such as a cliff or a building, without additional support from beneath. The project is a public-private partnership (PPP) undertaking between the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Re gion Development Authority (VMRDA) and RJ Adventures, a joint venture of SSM Shipping & Logistics and Bharat Mata Ventures Private Limited. Elaborating on the project, Bharat Mata Ventures Manag- ing Director Jomy Poonoly said, “This bridge is designed to accommodate up to 40 people at a time. It will not only offer visitors breathtaking views, but also position Visakhapatnam as a premier destination for adventure tourism.” Currently the Vagamon Glass , Bridge in Kerala, stretching over 40 metres, holds the record for India’s longest cantilever P4 glass bridge.  The NPP has seven MLAs. The BJP-led government’s survival will not be threatened by this development as the NDA still has 46 members in the 60member House. The party’s withdrawal of support comes a day after irate mobs vandalised the houses and properties of over a dozen legislators. As there is an apprehension of further attacks, security has been beefed up outside the legislators’s houses. The protestors are demanding their resignation for failing to check violence. Meanwhile, the Congress said Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh should seek an appointment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so the MLAs of ruling and opposition parties can go and meet him to discuss the situation. “What is the point of being a member of the Assembly if we cannot save Manipur?” Congress leader and former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh said. 2 others held CBI arrests Waltair DRM for taking `25L bribe u s h a p e r i @ Visakhapatnam Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested Saurabh Prasad, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division in Visakhapatnam, and two others in connection with a bribery case. The other two accused were identified as proprietors of private firms. A 1991-batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer, Prasad was caught red-handed in Mumbai while accepting a bribe of `25 lakh from a proprietor of a Mumbai-based private firm. The bribe was allegedly given to slash penalties imposed on the private company for delays and underperformance in contracts awarded by the East Coast Railway . The CBI inve s t i g a t i o n revealed that bills amounting to `3.17 crore raised by a private company were pending with East Coast Railway Due to delays in the ex. ecution of the contract, hefty penalties were imposed on the firm. To evade these penalties, two proprietors — one from Mumbai and the other from Pune — allegedly approached the DRM, who demanded `25 lakh bribe to facilitate the reduction of penalties and ensure the clearance of pending bills. After the DRM intervened, not only were the penalties slashed, but the bills were also cleared. Subsequently, during the DRM’s visit to Mumbai, the bribe amount of `25 lakh was handed over by the accused proprietor of the Mumbai firm. The CBI laid a trap and apprehended both individuals. Searches were conducted at various locations, including the DRM’s residence in VisaP4 khapatnam.